ELKHART - Firefighters had started making progress in fighting a fire at the VIM Recycling Plant about a mile east of the Elkhart-St. Joseph county line by 9:30 a.m. today.

Capt. Sean Holmes, commander of the Elkhart County emergency services unit, said, Â?We honestly donÂ?t know how long it could take to get it completely out, but now the fire is at least manageable.Â?

Four crop duster planes were used to help contain the fire, and fire departments from across the area were trucking water to the plant at 29861 Old U.S. 33.

Authorities had been concerned about the fire causing a water shortage earlier today, but Holmes said there is no longer cause for worry.

Although Holmes suggested that people who live near the fire keep their windows closed, he said there are no serious air pollution concerns.

Representatives of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management had tested the air in the area, and although carbon dioxide levels were high, they werenÂ?t high enough to cause concern.

IDEM also found nothing toxic in the area, Holmes said.

Some people who live west of the fire at 29861 Old U.S. 33 were voluntarily leaving the area.

One man was killed in the blaze, which started about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, and another man had been taken to a burn unit in Fort Wayne with second- and third-degree burns.

A third man suffered only minor injuries.

No other injuries were reported.

Early this morning, authorities were unsure how the blaze sparked, but several neighbors say they heard and felt an explosion.

"The sky lit up and was orange," said Zach Woodlee, 18, who lives nearby. "IÂ?ve never seen anything like it in my life."

"I was driving down the road and heard an explosion," Steve Deese, 21, added. "It felt like it was daylight. I looked over at the building and it was fully engulfed. It was out of control before firefighters even got here."

Smoke billowed hundreds of feet in the air and could be seen miles away.

More than 10 fire departments responded. The fire continued to spread during the first two hours and was primarily contained to a large pile of wood, which is about 300 yards long and 200 yard wide, Baugo Township Fire Department Capt. Tim Graves said.

The building likely will be a total loss, firefighters said.

"WeÂ?ve been here for several fires, but never for one as bad as this one," Graves said. "This is one of the worst fires in a long time."

In August 2005, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management cited the plant for failing to follow a dust control plan, WSBT-TV reported.